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Oct 4 2024

Laura Kuenssberg reveals more about axed BBC Boris Johnson interview – and the ‘brighter side’ of blunder | Politics News

Laura Kuenssberg has explained more about why a planned BBC interview with Boris Johnson could not go ahead – and revealed the “brighter side” after she said she accidentally sent the former prime minister her briefing notes.

In her weekly newsletter, Kuenssberg, who presents the broadcaster’s Sunday politics show, addressed her recent “embarrassing mistake”, saying it was sad and frustrating that the sit-down chat with Mr Johnson – who she referred to as “one of the most consequential politicians of our time” – could not happen.

She said when preparing for an interview, she works with a “tiny group” of producers to figure out what the most important subjects of the conversation might be and then imagines how an interviewee might reply.

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“Doing the homework is vital, even if it’s a subject you already know a lot about – especially with a politician like Johnson, who is not always fond of answering questions,” Kuenssberg wrote.

She added that she regularly bins a lot of prepped questions but would “never, ever, tell the politician or any guest” them ahead of time.

Watch Sky News interview with Boris Johnson throughout the day on Tuesday 8 October

“If they knew what was coming, they could prepare all their answers, and it would be a totally artificial exercise,” she said.

“Nor could we have changed our question subjects. If I hadn’t asked about Brexit, COVID, partygate, his resignation or his relationship with the truth, we simply wouldn’t have been doing our job.

“So, sadly and frustratingly, we just couldn’t go ahead.”

The interview by the BBC was set to be the first of a media round for the former prime minister to publicise his new book, Unleashed, which is released on 10 October.

It had been heavily promoted by the broadcaster for the past fortnight, but the BBC’s press team said sharing of the notes now makes the conversation “untenable”.

Finding the “brighter side” in what Kuenssberg referred to on Wednesday as an “embarrassing” error, she said other people had been in touch to share their own gaffes.

Kuenssberg said in one example, “a former government adviser messaged what she thought was her colleague, complaining that the cabinet minister she worked for was in ‘a right grump’. Except, unfortunately, she sent it to, yes, the actual cabinet minister”.

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Another example Kuenssberg gave is said to have included a former prime minister of another country accidentally being sent an email in which they were called a “very bad word”. The parliamentary staffer in question said the prime minister then read the email during PMQs.

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Oct 3 2024

Prince William reveals he skipped Paris Olympics due to Kate fears | UK News

Prince William has revealed he skipped the Olympic Games this year because he did not want to give his wife COVID while she was undergoing chemotherapy.

The royal said he decided not to join other dignitaries, such as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, at the spectacle in Paris in July, due to fears he may catch the virus and pass it on.

The Princess of Wales announced in March that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy – which can weaken the body’s ability to fight infections such as COVID.

The royal said last month she had completed her treatment.

Prince William made the comments as he met Team GB Olympic swimmers Adam Peaty and Tom Dean, as well as Paralympians Maisie Summers-Newton and Louise Fiddes, at Birtley Community Pool in Gateshead on Thursday.

Peaty narrowly missed out on a gold medal in the men’s 100m breaststroke in Paris and had to settle for a silver – before announcing the next day that he had been diagnosed with COVID.

Possibly referring to Peaty’s experiences, The royal said: “I was so keen to come but, I have to say, after reading someone’s interview about COVID I decided, because my wife was obviously having chemo, that I didn’t want to risk bringing COVID home.

“So Adam very kindly reminded me that was still a thing. But we watched the whole thing. We were glued to it every day.”

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Prince William visited the centre to promote swimming. The venue reopened in September following a community crowdfunding campaign against its closure due to cuts last year.

He told the four athletes he and the Princess of Wales “adored” swimming and his son George had taken up scuba diving.

The royal said: “He’s 10 years old. We took him under thinking he would freak out. He absolutely loves it.

“It’s just introducing him to the world of water.”

Referring to the pool, he added: “We want to replicate this across the country because swimming is such an important part of life.

“We’re an island nation, we should all have access to learn how to swim.”

It came as the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales announced a new partnership with Birtley Community Pool to provide swimming lessons and lifeguard training.

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Oct 3 2024

Northern Lights could appear over parts of the UK this week | Science & Tech News

The Northern Lights may make an appearance over the UK over the next couple of nights, after a series of solar flares erupted from the sun.

The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, are caused by solar storms interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere.

When solar storms react with atmospheric gases above our north and south magnetic poles, the result is beautiful displays of light in the sky, like the UK saw in May.

“Over the next couple of days, there’s a chance that we could be seeing the Northern Lights, particularly across northern parts of Scotland in the north of England and Northern Ireland,” Krista Hammond, a space weather expert at the Met Office, told Sky News.

“This is because there’s the potential to see the arrival of a geomagnetic storm.”

Earlier in the week, astronomers spotted two solar flares, which release plasma into space, coming from the sun – a process called a coronal mass ejection.

“Most of that will miss the Earth,” said Ms Hammond.

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“But there’s a chance in the coming nights that we will clip the edge of these two mass ejections, which means you’ve got the potential for the storm which causes the Northern Lights,” she added.

The UK has seen the Northern Lights more than usual in recent months because the sun is in a particularly active part of its cycle.

The cycle lasts around eleven years as its magnetic fields flip, according to Ms Hammond.

Read more: Stargazers share stunning images of aurora borealis

It is currently at the “solar maximum”, meaning there are many more solar flares and solar storms – and the Northern Lights are appearing much further south than usual.

It’s hard to tell when the solar maximum is ending, so make the most of opportunities to spot the Northern Lights.

“You can’t really tell that you’ve peaked until you’re in the descending phase,” said Ms Hammond.

“But it’s estimated that solar maximum is about now to the start of next year.”

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Oct 3 2024

Huge shift in interest rate predictions as Bank of England chief says cuts could be more ‘aggressive’ | Business News

Financial markets are now pricing in a shock interest rate cut for the UK at the next Bank of England meeting following remarks by its governor.

There was a huge shift in expectations after Andrew Bailey told the Guardian that the bank could be “a bit more aggressive” in its approach.

He talked about inflation pressures being less persistent than expected but tempered his comments by saying that its main indicators on the pace of price growth would need to continue to fall.

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Mr Bailey also worried about the potential threat to prices from oil costs, given events in the Middle East. “Geopolitical concerns are very serious”.

“It’s tragic what’s going on”, he said of the escalation involving Israel and Iran’s proxies.

“There are obviously stresses and the real issue then is how they might interact with some still quite stretched markets in places.”

He said there appeared to be “a strong commitment to keep the [oil] market stable” but “there’s a point beyond which that control could break down if things got really bad”.

“You have to continuously watch this thing, because it could go wrong,” he concluded.

Oil costs have remained relatively stable this week despite worries over the potential threat to supplies in the event of a war between Israel and Iran.

Despite the caveats from Mr Bailey, 98% of market bets were on a rate cut of 0.25 percentage points for the Bank’s meeting on 7 November. Most also saw a further cut coming in December.

Ahead of Thursday’s market open, a majority of investors had expected no change to the rate until December, given sticky elements from services inflation and continuing pressure from the pace of wage rises in the economy.

The Bank had warned in August that it would take a data-driven approach to cuts beyond the quarter point reduction it introduced at that time.

The Bank rate was held at 5% at September’s meeting.

August’s decline marked the first downwards move to borrowing costs since the Bank began hiking rates aggressively in December 2021.

The rises were initially a response to the price growth seen as the economy re-opened following COVID restrictions but inflation soon soared when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sparked the energy-driven cost of living crisis.

Market hopes of a reduction as soon as the next meeting of the Bank’s monetary policy committee could help fixed rate mortgage costs ease further and more quickly.

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The shift in rate cut expectations meant that the pound’s winning run of 2024 found a reverse gear.

Sterling was a cent and a half down against the US dollar and a cent lower versus the euro to stand at $1.31 and just under €1.19 respectively.

Higher interest rates tend to be supportive of a domestic currency.

The pound’s decline was also aided by closely-watched business survey data that showed a decline in the pace of price growth being passed on in the services sector – bolstering Mr Bailey’s rate cut case.

The S&P Global report showed inflation on prices charged at its lowest level since February 2021.

The FTSE 100 opened 0.2% up, with the weaker pound boosting constituents who make money abroad, as those revenues are worth more when booked back in the UK.

Housebuilders were also among those to benefit as the prospect of lower interest rates will encourage buyers on affordability grounds.

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Oct 3 2024

Stamps celebrate 60 years of The Who including iconic album covers | Ents & Arts News

A special set of stamps is being issued to mark the 60th anniversary of veteran rock band The Who.

Royal Mail revealed details of 12 stamps which feature images of some of The Who’s most popular album covers and group shots from some of their live performances.

The album covers are My Generation from 1965; Tommy from 1969; Who’s Next from 1971; Quadrophenia from 1973; Who Are You from 1978; Face Dances from 1981; Endless Wire from 2006; and Who from 2019.

A miniatures sheet features two group publicity shots and two images of the band’s live performances at the Marquee Club in London in 1967 and the Kings Hall in Belle Vue, Manchester, in 1973.

Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon formed The Who in 1964.

Within five years, they went from performing club shows to headlining the Woodstock festival in the US and becoming the biggest box-office draw in the world.

Daltrey said: “The artwork on the album sleeves was almost as important to the success of the record as the music. It’s great to be reminded of them.”

Townshend said: “Stamp! Stamp! Stamp! It’s what I’ve done on stage all my life, sometimes in the air.

“At last my stamping, and that of my buddy Roger, has been honoured properly, and will help letters, parcels and birthday cards travel through time and space, just as we have.”

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Oct 2 2024

James Blunt says he will legally change his name to whatever fans choose if his album reaches No 1 | Ents & Arts News

Singer James Blunt has promised to legally change his name to the most popular suggestion from the public – but there’s a catch.

The 50-year-old musician vowed that if the re-release of his debut album Back to Bedlam hits number one in the charts, he will change his name by deep poll.

In a video message posted on X, Blunt said the album – which features hits like You’re Beautiful, Goodbye My Lover and High – is being re-released on 11 October to mark its 20th anniversary.

“I’ll let the people decide,” Blunt is heard saying in the short video. He adds: “But if it doesn’t go to number one, I’m not changing my name.”

Writing alongside the video message, the singer used the hashtag #jameswho and asked fans to comment their name suggestions below the post, with the most-liked becoming the winner.

And fans did not disappoint. Within hours of being posted on Wednesday, it racked up over 800,000 views and more than 2,000 comments.

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The most-liked suggestion at the time of writing was Blunty McBluntface – the exact name the singer said he did not want during an interview on The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X on 30 September.

Other popular suggestions included Blames Junt, James Corden (after the presenter and Gavin & Stacey star) and Nick Pope (after the Newcastle United and England footballer).

Back to Bedlam became one of the best-selling albums of the 2000s in the UK and is 17th on the list of the best-selling in UK chart history, according to the Official Charts website. His single You’re Beautiful reached number one in both the UK and US.

Blunt went on to release a further seven albums. The latest was Who We Used To Be, in 2023.

As part of the anniversary album, the singer is embarking on a tour across the UK and Europe, playing London’s The O2 Arena on 16 February next year, as well as dates in Belfast, Dublin, Leeds, Glasgow and Manchester.

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Oct 2 2024

UNICEF reported Naomi Campbell’s charity to commission over 2019 fashion event, organisation says | Ents & Arts News

Naomi Campbell’s charity was reported to the Charity Commission by UNICEF over a fashion event in 2019, the humanitarian organisation has said.

It comes after the supermodel was banned from being a charity trustee for five years last week, following an inquiry that concluded only a small proportion of money raised by Fashion For Relief went to good causes.

After the findings were made public by the Charity Commission, Campbell said she was “extremely concerned”, that she was “not in control” of the charity, and that an investigation on her part was under way.

Fashion For Relief was dissolved and removed from the register of charities earlier this year.

Now, humanitarian organisation UNICEF has said it did make a report to the Charity Commission over a star-studded event held during London Fashion Week in 2019.

According to the Guardian, in a brochure for the event on a page displaying the UNICEF logo, Fashion For Relief said funds raised would “support UNICEF’s efforts to provide the essential interventions to protect, save lives and ensure the rights of all children, everywhere”.

UNICEF has said it never held any partnership with Fashion For Relief and did not receive any funds from the show.

In a statement, a spokesperson for UNICEF said: “We take fundraising compliance very seriously and UNICEF UK reported Fashion For Relief 2019 to the Charity Commission, as per our statutory requirements.

“We have never held any official partnership with Fashion For Relief and we have never received any funds from the 2019 event.”

An official ambassadorial role with UNICEF “comes after many years of commitment and support”, the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for Campbell said she “never held herself out as a representative of UNICEF, although she worked with them”.

Details on the Fashion For Relief website say proceeds went to the Mayor’s Fund for London.

Campbell was discovered as a schoolgirl, and she went on to become the first black British model to appear on the cover of British Vogue.

The 54-year-old welcomed her second child, a son, last year, following a daughter born in 2021.

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Oct 2 2024

Starmer travels to Brussels for talks to ‘put Brexit years behind us’ | Politics News

Sir Keir Starmer will travel to Brussels on Wednesday to hold talks with EU leaders about “putting the Brexit years behind us” and bolstering ties with the UK.

The prime minister has vowed to “reset” relations with Europe following tensions between the previous Tory government and the EU – though he has ruled out a return to the single market, customs union or freedom of movement.

Downing Street said Sir Keir will be focused on delivering a “broad-based security pact” with the bloc, as well as tackling barriers to trade.

In discussions with the likes of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, he will say that at a time of growing instability in the world, it is important that “like-minded countries cooperate more closely on areas of shared interest”.

Ahead of the meeting, the prime minister said: “The UK is undeniably stronger when it works in lockstep with its closest international partners. This has never been more important – with war, conflict and insecurity all knocking on Europe’s door.

“We will only be able to tackle these challenges by putting our collective weight behind them, which is why I am so determined to put the Brexit years behind us and establish a more pragmatic and mature relationship with the European Union.

“Better cooperation with the EU will deliver the benefits the British people deserve – securing our borders, keeping us safe and boosting economic growth.”

No concrete announcements are expected from the talks, which will also include meetings with European Council President Charles Michel and the European Parliament’s President Roberta Metsola.

The European Commission said the discussions with Ms von der Leyen would be “the beginning of a conversation” about closer ties.

Sir Keir is under pressure to agree to Brussels’ calls for a deal on youth mobility to allow young EU citizens greater flexibility to come to the UK to study and work and vice versa.

This is something the prime minister has so far resisted, saying red lines for the reset rule out a return of freedom of movement, alongside rejoining the customs union and single market.

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Before the talks, pro-EU campaigners pushed for a rethink, accusing the government of “letting young people down”.

Sir Nick Harvey, chief executive of European Movement UK, said: “Dismissing the idea of reciprocal youth mobility simply means letting down British young people, who face all sorts of economic difficulties and have seen their horizons curtailed by Brexit.

“Young people want and deserve the chance to study or work in Europe. The government owes it to them to make sure they get that chance.”

Cal Roscow, from the Best for Britain campaign, said: “Brexit robbed young Brits of irreplaceable opportunities to experience new cultures, meet new people and learn new languages while working, travelling and studying in Europe.

“The new government has the chance to give these formative experiences back to young Brits, with this universally popular scheme that the European Commission is already open to agreeing.”

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Oct 2 2024

Dr Yaser Jabbar: Family say surgeon was ‘trying to save a leg that couldn’t be saved’ | UK News

The father of a six-year-old girl who was operated on by former surgeon Dr Yaser Jabbar multiple times over 15 months is among the first to be told she suffered harm during her care.

Dean Stalham’s daughter Bunty was born with the rare bone condition neurofibromatosis.

It means she has been in and out of hospital since she was 18 months old but was placed under the care of the former consultant orthopaedic surgeon in 2018.

During her time in Dr Jabbar’s care at Great Ormond Street Hospital, her family say she underwent multiple “unsuccessful and painful” procedures which ultimately led to her leg being amputated below the knee.

The hospital is reviewing the care of hundreds of children seen by Dr Jabbar.

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Some 700 cases are being investigated in total and a select number of families have heard back already, including Bunty’s.

The review of her care – shown to Sky News – revealed that she had suffered moderate physical and mild psychological harm.

Speaking to Sky News, her father Dean Stalham said: “He [Dr Jabbar] was trying to save a leg that couldn’t be saved.

“He took it upon himself to be the almighty saviour of the leg, as it were, and it proves that they were all unnecessary because they all failed – and what it says in the report is that there’s no benefit, not one operation was of any benefit to Bunty whatsoever.”

Mr Stalham added: “He was all smiles and success – coming in and saying I’ve lengthened her leg, it’s great, it’s longer than the other one, it was all a big major success and then out of the blue – actually no it hasn’t worked.”

Dr Jabbar no longer works at the hospital and has not had a licence to practise medicine in the UK since January.

Bunty’s leg was eventually amputated in 2022. Her father says it should have happened sooner and saved her from prolonged pain.

“We think that she thought her leg was going to grow back, in her head, because she was told it was a healthy bone… she thought her leg was going to regrow. He sold her a dream.

“After the eventual amputation, he came out of that operation and said right I’ve left a three-inch piece of lovely, healthy bone hanging from her knee, it will mean she will have mobility. Then two weeks later, the bone’s veering off to the left.”

An external report – commissioned by Great Ormond Street – into Dr Jabbar’s practices and the wider department, is due to be sent to the families of those affected who wish to see it.

They have been told it will be redacted in places.

Caroline Murgatroyd, from Hudgell Solicitors, is representing some of them.

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“Bunty’s case has similarities to others we have seen – which is a pattern of poor decision making, failure to consider alternatives to the surgery and failure to discuss with parents the risks and benefits to different treatment options and whether any particular treatment is really in the patient’s best interest.”

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children said in a statement: “We wish to say we are deeply sorry to Bunty and her family, and all the families impacted by the review of care given by a Lower Limb Orthopaedic surgeon. This is not what they should expect from any service at our hospital.

“Within 18 working days of concerns being raised to senior leaders about the Lower Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Service, we asked the Royal College of Surgeons to carry out a review into our Paediatric Orthopaedic service in July 2022.

“We are now ensuring that all the findings are addressed at pace.”

Dr Jabbar has since been working in Dubai, but Sky News understands he has been suspended.

In a statement shared with Sky News, a spokesperson from CMC Hospital Dubai said: “We have been made aware of recent reports concerning allegations of misconduct and malpractice involving a physician employed at our hospital.

“We took immediate action to suspend the physician. We are awaiting the relevant authorities’ decisions on the matter.”

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Oct 1 2024

Starmer says UK ‘stands with Israel’ and he is ‘deeply concerned’ Middle East is ‘on the brink’ | Politics News

Sir Keir Starmer has said Britain stands with Israel and warned he is “deeply concerned” that the Middle East “is on the brink”.

In a televised address from Downing Street, the prime minister condemned an attack by Iran which saw around 200 missiles launched into Israel.

Sir Keir, who was on the phone to the Israeli PM when the assault was launched, said the rockets were aimed at civilian targets and it is “too soon to assess the impact fully”.

“I utterly condemn this attempt by the Iranian regime to harm innocent Israelis, to escalate this incredibly dangerous situation and push the region ever closer to the brink,” he said.

“We stand with Israel and we recognise her right to self-defence in the face of this aggression.”

Sir Keir called Iran to “stop these attacks”, saying it had “menaced the Middle East for far too long”.

“I am deeply concerned that the region is on the brink, and I’m deeply concerned about the risk of miscalculation,” he added.

Israel has vowed “there will be repercussions” following the attack, which Iran said was in retaliation for Israel’s campaign against the Tehran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon.

Asked if the UK would be prepared to use British military capabilities to help Israel defend itself against Iran, the prime minister said: “This, as you’ll appreciate, is an evolving situation.

“But what I will say is that we stand with Israel and her right to self-defence. And any relevant updates will be provided in due course.”

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